Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-19
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
Gen. Grant on the Terms of the Vicks-
burg Surrender.

burg Surrender.
The following letter, dated New York,
Nov. 30, 1884 was addressed to Gen.
Marcus J. Wright, agent of the war de-
partment for the collection Of Confederate
records, by whose permission it is printed
from the original manuscript:
DEAR GENEEAL-Hsrewith | send you
Gen Pemberton's account of the surren-
der OF Nicksburg. As the written matter
is copy and supposing you have what 1t
has been copied from, do not return it,
though | will if you inform me that you
want it.
"A gentleman from Philadelphia sent
me the same matter | return herewith,
last summer. l probably left the paper
at Long Branch, but do not know Ger
tainly. All there il Of Importance in the
matter of the surrende" of NiCksburg Is
contained in the correspondence between
Gen Pemberton and myself. The fact Is,
Gen. Pemberton, being northern man
commanding a southern army, was not AT
the same liberty To surrender an army
that man Of southern birth would be.
In adversely or defeat he became an OBJ
ject of suspicion, and felt it. Bowen was
a southern man all over, and knew the
garrison of Nicksburg had To surrender or
be captured, and knew it was best to stop
further effusion Of blood by surrendering.
He did all he could to bring about that
result.
'Pemberton is mistaken in several
points. Ii was Bowen that proposed that
he and A j. Smith should talk over the
matter Of the surrender and submit their
views Neither Penberton nor objected; {;
but we We're not willing To commit our
selves To accepting such terms as they
might propose. In "A short time those Off
GERS returned. Bowen acted rs spokes-
man What he said WAS substantially
this: The Confederate army was to be per
mitted to march out with the honors OF
war, carrying with them their arms, col
ors and field batteries. The national
troops Were then to march in and occupy
the city, and retain the siege guns, small
arms not in the hands Of the men, all pub
lie property remaining OF course l re
jected the terms at once. l did agree,
however, before We separated to write
Pemberton what terms l would give.
The correspondence is public and speaks
for itself. held no council Of war. Hos
tilities having ceased, officers and men
soon became acquainted with the rea-
son why. Curiosity leu officers Of
rank-most all the general officers-to
visit my headquarters with the hope of
getting some news. talked with them
very freely about the meeting between
Gen. Pemberton and myself, our corre-
spondence, etc. But in no sense was it a
council of war. was very glad TO give
the garrison Of Vicksburg the terms did.
There was a cartel in existence at that
time which requested either party to ex-
change or parole all prisoners either at
Nicksburg or at u point on the James
river within ten days after capture or as
soon thereafter rs practicable. This
would have used all the transportation We
had for month. The men had behaved
SO well that did not want to humiliste
them. believed that consideration for
their feelings would make them less dan
gerous foes during the continuance Of hos
tilities, and better citizens after the war
was over.
81 am very much obliged To you, gen.
eral, for your courtesy in sending me these
papers. Very truly yours,
~. S. GRANT"